The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a study that demonstrated several lethal side-effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), has left many pharmaceutical companies scrambling to advance alternative therapies to meet the unique market demand created by the drop in hormone sales. Although several therapies have advanced to late-stage clinical studies, few represent a truly novel approach. […]
Serada Half Price Sale: DepoMed’s Stock Price Poised to Climb
Several weeks ago, DepoMed (NASDAQ:DEPO), a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced positive phase 3 trial results for the treatment of Post Herpetic Neuralgia (‘PHN’) with DM1796. But DepoMed’s news of success was soon eclipsed. Only one week later, the company announced that Serada didn’t meet its primary endpoints in two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials for […]
Weight loss, as easy as taking a Qnexa pill
Vivus Pharmaceuticals shocked the health-care industry earlier this year when it announced positive phase III results for it’s new obesity miracle drug. The drug, dubbed Qnexa, is a combination of two, already approved therapies, phentermine and topiramate. Qnexa, combines phentermine, the stimulant that boost the metabolism, with topiramate, an anti-convulsant that also interferes with binge-eating […]
Warner Chilcott to devour Proctor & Gamble drug unit
Pharmaceutical M&A is still robust. Rumors are spreading that Warner Chilcott (NASDAQ:WCRX) will purchase Proctor & Gamble’s (NYSE:PG) prescription drug unit as early as tomorrow. The price tag is rumored to be around $3 Billion USD. If the deal is completed, Warner Chilcott will double it’s annual revenue, making it a resounding force in the […]
Black Cohosh, Red Clover not effective for Hot Flashes
Women who are experiencing menopausal symptoms have few treatment options. According to two studies conducted by researchers at Northwestern University and University of Illinois, two commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) remedies do not relief menopausal hot flashes. In the studies, black cohosh and red clover were compared to hormone replacement therapy and placebo. The study included […]
Depomed’s new Parkinson’s drug shows promise
Depomed (NASDAQ:DEPO), a specialty pharmaceutical company, reported positive updates in it’s most recent 10Q regarding it’s phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease with DM-1992, a novel sustained-release formulation of LevoDopa/Carbidopa. According to the company’s 10Q, Depomed completed the study in early August of 2009. “In the study, DM-1992 extended coverage above […]
Metformin lowers risks of diabetes… and pancreatic cancer
Metformin, a first-line diabetes treatment, lowers the risk of pancreatic cancer by 62%. According to a study conducted by Donghui Li, Ph.D from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, drugs like Glumetza, Fortamet, and Glucophage were associated with a significantly reduced risk of pancreatic cancer. The study was a hospital-based, case-control […]
Pharma companies looking to Women’s Health for growth
During menopause, women experience many symptoms associated with the natural change in hormone levels. Hot flashes and sexual dysfunction are the most prevalent symptoms, and if untreated can lead to sleep deprivation and even depression. Before the Women’s Health Initiative, women were effectively treating their menopausal symptoms with hormone replacement therapy. Since then, the medical […]
Wyeth drug shows promise in treating hot flashes
Today, Wyeth (NYSE:WYE) announced that their compound, bazedoxifene/conjugated-estrogens, significantly reduces the severity and frequency of menopausal hot flashes. Although the use of hormones has been associated with several potentially lethal side effects, Wyeth says that in this study, uterine bleeding was not statistically different from placebo and the rate of endometrial hyperplasia was less than […]
Merck beefing up diabetes pipeline
Merck acquires non-exclusive license for Acuform technology from Depomed Merck plans to use technology to expand it’s diabetes portfolio Signifies the extended release diabetes market is growing more competitive Pharmaceutical pipeline weaknesses will spur more deals. Today, Merck (NYSE:MRK) signaled that it will be expanding it’s diabetes pipeline. Merck announced that it has licensed certain […]
Pfizer expanding into emerging markets: Turkey
Rumors are buzzing in the pharma sector. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) may be considering a takeover of Abdi Ibrahim, Turkey’s largest pharmaceutical company, demonstrating Pfizer’s shift from domestic markets to emerging markets. After it’s merger with Wyeth (NYSE:WYE), Pfizer’s executives organized at Castle Gray Skull and set it’s course to find it’s partners in the Middle East. […]
Noven: Mesafem is tackling the heat of hot flashes
Earlier this month, I suggested that there is a huge unmet need, and substantial market opportunity, for a potential product that will treat menopausal symptoms. We recommended several Women’s Health companies. Today, one of those companies, Noven (NASDAQ:NOVN) announced positive phase 2 trial results for Mesafem, a drug that treats vasomotor symptoms, known as “hot flashes”. […]
Johnson & Johnson Lathers Elan
Pharmacuetical Giant, Johnson & Johnson, is taking a minority stake in Ireland’s Elan 18% stake for $1 Billion USD Elan’s (NYSE:ELN) wish came true. The Irish company attracted a Big Pharma partner–Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)–to take a minority stake, just as it’s been hoping for all along. J&J will sink $1 billion into Elan in […]
Women’s Health: Who can handle the heat for Hot Flashes?
After the Women’s Health Initiative there is an opportunity for new non-hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms Some estimates believe this market may be up to $8 Billion USD Before the Women’s Health Initiative (‘WHI’), women were effectively treating their menopausal symptoms with hormone replacement therapy (‘HRT’), such as Premarin, Prempro and others. But since then, […]
Solvay : “Second Round” for Drug-Unit
Reuters reported that Solvay has drawn up a shortlist of potential bidders for it’s drug business. The start of a second round of the divestment process is supposed to imply that “Solvay is more serious than it has said in public about selling the business with $3.78 billion in sales.” Solvay commented on the report, […]
Santurus: Fundamentals Unchanged!
Recently, an article from Seeking Alpha has got me scratching my head! The title: “Santarus: Business Fundamentals Improving”, which was written by an analyst from Zack’s. The article highlighted recent additions to Santarus’s business plan through the in-licensing of: Glumetza, Budenoside, and Rifamycin. Furthermore, the article suggested that these additions are net positive since little-to-no […]
DepoMed: Protected by Cash and Headed Higher
Recently, my partner has made some great stock picks for his portfolio. The markets now are truly once in a lifetime and these sort of gyrations can present huge opportunities to us small time investors. His portfolio is up 75% month-over-month. I got to give him props. But let me make a case for Depomed (NASDAQ:DEPO). […]
